Refrigerating apparatus on trucks



June 15, 1937.- A, NES. VI2,084,032

REFRIGERATING ArPARATUs. 0N TRUCKS File@ May 19, 1932- esmas-sheet 1 1 having a bo dy with a refrigerating chamberv therein and to a refrigerating system for cooling said chamber adapted t o be driven from the' Patented June 15,-` 1937 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE 2,084,032

BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS oN 'moons Clifford A. Nea-Minneapolis, Minn. Application May 19, 1932, serial No. 612,205

s claims. (ci. azi-'111) n f 'This invention relates to an automotive vehicle driving motor of said vehicle, as well as from an electric motor driven by outside current.

The volume of ice cream and similar frozen confections marketed today is quite large and in every city and town of any size, there are ice cream manufacturers. The ice cream is trans- 'ported from the factory where it is made, to various retailers. Ice cream is supplied daily to an immense number of soda fountains and this requires a large number of vehicles. 'These vehicles now are practically-all automotive trucks having a body with some means for carrying the ice cream and keeping the saine at a lowvtem.

perature. It has been the common'practice until quite recently, to carry ice on the truck which was packed about the 'ice cream. This necessitates carrying a heavy weight of material in addition to the goods transported.

It is desirable to have a truck with a body having an insulated chamber and a refrigerating means on the truck for maintaining the interior of the chamber at a low temperature. The refrigerating means is Jof comparatively small weight and occupies a small space, and the capacity of the truck for carrying ice cream is greatly increased.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an automotive truck having a body with an insulated chamber therein, together with a 'refrigerating means, an electric motor for driving said means adapted to be supplied with outside current when the vehicle is-stationary, together with means for driving saidV refrigerating means from the motor ,of the vehicle, including an cverrunning clutch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automotive vehicle having a body with an insulated chamber therein, a refrigerating means including a compressor, and means for driving said compressor from the motor or engine of said vehicle when desirable, an overrunning clutch being used which will not drive when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

It is another object of thelinven/tion to provide an automotive vehicle having va body with an 0 insulated chamber therein, together with means for refrigerating said chamber, including a series of pipes in the form of coils disposed adjacent the roof of said chamber and held in-place in spaced relation by non-metallici means secured to'said roof.

' shaft, an overrunning companying drawings, in which It is still another object of `the invention to' provide in combination with an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a transmission mechanism including a shaft extendingv longitudinally of said vehicle, a second 'shaft extending parallel. to said transmission shaft, a chainconnecting said shafts for driving said sco'nd shaft, a third shaft 'geared to said second shaft, an overrunning clutch, a manually operated clutch adaptedto connect and disconsides thereof and having an insulatedl chamber therein, a; bracket secured to said body beneath thesame at at one side of said` fram a compressor carried on said bracket, an electric motor carried on said bracket adapted todrive said compressor, said bracket also having thereon a radiator o'r condensing coil, a fan' and a storage receptacle for compressed refrigerant.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide an automotive vehicle having a frame and a transmission shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a support extending trans-l versely of said frame, a shaft carriedby said support and extending' transversely of said frame, a

shaft extending parallel to said transmission shaft, Yand geared to said second shaft, a chain for driving said latter shaft from said ltransmission lutch, a manually operated clutch adapted to connect and disconnect said second shaft from one member of said overrunning clutch, a shaft -connected to the other member of said overrunning clutch, a constant speed governorv carried by said last mentioned shaft, a. compressor, and means for drivingv said "compressor from said last mentioned shaft, said over-v running clutch being constructed and varranged to drive when the vehicle is in forward gear, but to run idle when said vehicle is -in reverse gear.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention 'will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accharacters' refer to similar parts throughout the vseveral views and in which':-

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe truck like reference v for the parts.

Referring tothe drawings, a vehicle is shown mounted upon the usual wheelsv I8, carried on suitable axles I I to which are secured the springs I2, in turn secured tothe frame members I3. A drivers cabin 9 is shown, equipped with the outside door 9a. 'I'he frame members as usual are of metal and extend longitudinally of the vehicle at either side thereof. The vehicle is provided with the usual internal combustion motor and the transmission shaft I4 extends longitudinally oi the frame members I3 substantially midway between the same. In accordance with the present invention, this transmission shaft is provided with a sprocket I5 over which runs a chain I 6, in turn running over another sprocket II which is secured to an auxiliary shaft I8 extending parallel to shaft I4 and carried in a suitable bearing in a casing I9 mountedon a transverse support 28 and 'also in a bearing (not shown) mounted on the transverse frame member I3a. Shaft I8 has secured thereto a ,beveled gear 2I meshng'with another beveled gear 22 secured to a shaft 23 also journaled in the casing I9. Gears 2| and 22 are carried in the casing I9 which, as shown, is in the form of a square or rectangular box. It will be s'een that the position` of the gear 22 can readily be changed in casing I9 or said casing could be placed end for .end if it is desired to drive shaft 23 in the opposite direction. Shaft 23 has interposed therein a chain coupling 24 and extends to and has secured thereto one member 25a of a toothed clutch 25. 'I'he other member of the clutch 25 is secured to a shaft 26 which in turn is securedto one member 21a of an overrunning clutch 21'. The other main member of the overrunning clutch 21 is secured to a vshaft 28 journaled in a bearing 29 secured to the member 28. While member 28 might take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustratedit is shown .as an angle bar extending across andbolted to the frame members I3 by headed and nutted bolts 38.- The shaft 28 has secured thereto outside of the bearing 29 a speed governing device .or constant speed governor 3I. This device is a well known commercial article, and is constructed and arranged ,to only drive between certain speed limits. It

forms, per se, no part of the present invention` and need not be further specifically described. Member 3I is formed on its periphery as a grooved pulley and abelt 32 runs 'thereover and also runs in the groove of a double groove pulley 33 to be later described. The clutch member 25a is splined to a shaft 23 and has a circumferential g'roove therein embraced by aclutch fork on one end-of the clutch lever I34 -pivotally mountedon apivot 34a secured to member 28, the other end oflever 24 being connected Ito an operating link 35 having a handle portion 35a thereon which is disposed at one side of the vehicle. The frame I3 carries the body 36 of the vehicle mounted directly upon transverse -timbers 3IY which, with the bodyr extend at either side of the frame members I3. -'I'he body,r 38 has insulating walls 35a thus forming an insulated chamber therein.v

The body 38 is shown as provided with a.. doer terior of said body, and the same is also provided with a door 36o at its rear end. A bracket 38 is secured at one side of frame members I3 beneath the body 36 adjacent the front end thereof, the same being secured to the transverse timbers 3'I. While this bracket might beof various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as made of angle irons. This bracket has vertically depending portions and a horizontal lower portion. A compressor 39 of the usual type used in a small refrigerating system is provided, and this is mounted on bracket 38. Compressor 39 has a driving shaft to which pulley 33 issecured. An electric motor 48 is also mounted on bracket 38 at one side of the compressor 39. The motor 4,8 has secured to the armature shaft thereof a grooved pulley 4I and a belt 42 runs ove;` this pulley and in one ofy the grooves of the pulley 33, A radiator or condensing coil 43 is provided, disposed centrally in relation to the axisrof motor 48 and said motor shaft is equipped with'a fan 44 adapted to draw a current' of air through said coil 43. Frame 38 also has secured thereto at .one end a tank 45 shown as cylindrical in form, and this is secured to said bracket by a Ui-shaped clip-48yformed of a rod threaded at its ends so as to receive thev A conduit 48 connects the tank 45 to the com' pressor 39 and a return conduit49 is shown connected to compressor 39.

The compressed refrigerant is supplied to a series of coils 18518-, nated generally as 58 throughan expansion valve 58e connected totank 4,5 and which is suitably controlled by a thermostat. 58d. The coils 58 are vdisposed in three layers as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and are in two series, each series comprising a plurality of groups 58a.=- The pipes orl coils are held in grooves formed in transverse bars or slats 5I lpreferably made of wood and which are secured to the top wall or roof 36d by the headed and nutted bolts 52extending ateither side of the bars 5I and through a transverse bar 53 at their bottomsbelow which the nuts on sai bolts are disposed. The bars 5I have quite a little elasticity and the pipes 58 are thus carried by the roof 38h with more or less yielding eiect. 'I'he refrigerant coming from the expansion valvey 58e enters the upper coils at the out`r side of the two groups, passes through lsaid coils and leaves the coils through the inner lower pipes passing" back to the compressor through the conduit 43.

The motor 48 is adapted to be driven by cure rent supplied from an outside source, a's for in- 'stanc-e, city current supplied whilethe motor is at rest in the gara/ge or storage place where it is kept overnight. An outlet box 54 is provided at the front of ,the body 38 and a conduit 55 carrying'suitable conductors leads from box 54 tol the motor 48. Box 54 will have therein the usual socket adapted to receive a lplug carried on an electrical conductor. In practice a covering is provided for the parts carried by bracket 38, such as the sheet metal cover 58 provided with suitable louvres 56a. l

Cil

In operathin, whenthe truck is in the garagev I or storage place at night or at other times, an electric conductor having the usual plug thereon can be connected to the box 54 by engaging in the socket therein. VCurrent will thus be supplied to the motor 48 and the same will be driven and will, through the belt 42, drive pulley' 33 and the compressor 39. The refrigerating system will thus be'operated and the refrigerant used will be compressed-by compressor 39 and delivered to the tank-45. The lrefrigerant will be passed through the expansion valve 5I and will pass into the coils 50. The fan M will also be drivenso that air will be drawn through the cooling'` coil 43 through which the refrigerant also passes. 'Ihe amount of refrigerant released by. the ex- -pansion valve 50c willbe governed by the thermostat 50d; The refrigerating system used is similar to those now used in domestic refrigerators and there is no particular novelty in the re-' frigerating system per se. The temperature within the body 36 can thus'be brought'to a low point. g.,- In practice when the truck has been in the garage at night, the temperature has'been brought to thirty degrees below-zero F. When the pulleyA 33 is thus driven by the motor 40, it in turn through the belt 32` drives the governor 3| and thus drives shaft 28 and one member of the overrunning clutch 21.

however, of the overrunning clutch, is not driven, as the clutch is arranged to run idle when so l driven. Such overrunning clutches are now Well known and one common type comprisesan outer member and an inner member, the inner mem- Y ber having eccentric surfaces, between which.

and the outer members are disposed rollers. When the members are driven in onev direction, the clutch willengage and drive, but will run idle when the members are driven in an opposite direction. It will thus be seen that the overruning clutch 21 prevents the drive passing'back vto shaft 23 and thence to the transmission shaft I4 and the speed change gears of thetruck. Normally.

the clutch 25 will be disengaged so that the drive would extend no further than this clutch. It is possible, however, that the workmen would forget to disengage clutch 25. I f this were so and the overrunning clutch 21 were not provided, the

drive would extend back to the motor ancsomething would be damaged. l

When the truck is in operation and the temperature in the chamber of th body rises, this`\ will be noted by the operator. A thermometer is providedwithin the chamber so that the tem'` perature can be readily observed, and the oper ator would soon discover that the temperature 59 was too high on account of the cream softening.

' driven by an internal combustion motor' and hav- When the temperature rises to Ia certain point, the operator will operate the link 35 through the handle 35a.. vThere will be usually plenty of opportunity to do'this while the truck is `standing at the curb While serving a. custonier, although, of course, the operatorl could stop the truck, espe- *cially for this purpose if necessary. When clutch' 25 is engaged and the motor of the truck is running, shaft I8 will be driven through the C9 chain I6 and will in turn through the gears 2|v clutch at this time is in driving position and drives the shaft 28. This in turn drives the speed controller 3i; so that if the speed is above acertain point, belt 32 will bedriven and member 3I also insures that the speed will not rise-abo`ve a certain point. Such a speed/control is necessary to effectively drive the compressor 39. With member `3| driven, the pulley 33 is driven through the belt 32 and compressorv 39 is operated so that refrigerant is applied to the coils 59. The chamber in body 36 is -thus. .kept at the desired temperature, while the truckis moving about the city The. other member 21a,

forth, in the and 22 drivethe shaft 23. This drives shaft 23 with clutchV 25 engaged and the overrunning and delivering the ice cream. It is frequently necessary for theoperator touback the truck. in t parking and at other times, and the overrunning clutch 21, is also provided so that the truck vcan -be thus backed or` reversed without any damage to the operating parts. When the. truck is in ,reverse gear or is backed, the overrunning clutch 21 runs idle and there is no drive of the pulley 33 and compressor 39. As soon as the truck is again run or put into forward gear and runs in a forward direction, the engine thereof will again 10 drive the compressor 39. The overrunning clutch thus functions both when the engine of the truck 'is being used to operate the compressor, and, also when the motor 40 is being used to operate the compressor. The refrigerating mechanism is 15 conveniently carried at one side of the frame I3 .in the body thereof. The structure is provided with comparatively few additional parts and the parts are so arranged vthat the refrigerating apl paratus can be driverr either by outside current or it can bel driven by the engine of.' the truckA when the truck' is in use. The mechanism is 5,9 practical'y all out of the body and the rcfrigerating coils `are' disposed close tov theA roof of thev chamber in the body so that a large capacity is had in the refrigerated chamber of the body.

The mechanism is very easily controlled bythe 1 operator and interferes in no way with the usual driving and 'transmissionI mechanism of the truck. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and is being commercially used. The same has proven very successful.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be madein the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts. without departing from the scope of applicants invention,'which generally stated, consists in a device 45 capableeof carrying 'out the objects. above set arts and combinations of parts discose'd and d fined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:- 1. In an automotive Ivehicle adapted `to .be *50 from said shaft, a compressor forming part of a refrigerating unit, means for driving said compressor` from said second shaft including a speed regulating governor, an overrunning clutch and a. manually operated clutch, an electric niotor j carried by said frame and means foi driving said compressor from saidelectric motor, said overrunning clutch being constructed and arranged not to driveigyhe'said compressor is being driven" from said el tric motorand whn said vehicle is in reverse gear.

2. In .an automotive vehicle adapted to be 5 driven by an internal combustionmotor and having a frame carrying a body adapted to be refrigerated, a gearl shift mechanism, a transmission mechanism including jash/aft extendingAlongitudi-f 0 nally of said`frame at the rear of said gear shift mechanism and beneath said body, the combination of a support carried by said frame, a second shaft carried by saidsupport beneath said body, an auxiliary shaft beneath said body parallel to 75 said transmission shaft, means for driving said.

auxiliary shaft from said transmission shaft, gearing connecting said auxiliary shaft and second shaft, a third shaft carried by said support alined with said second shaft, a manually opel ated clutch for connecting and disconnecting said second'and third shafts, an over-running clutch having one member secured to said third shaft, a fourth shaft secured to the other member of said over-running clutch, a constant speed governor having a pulleyl thereon secured to said fourth shaft, a compressor forming part 'of a refrigerating unit carried by said vehicle and having a pulley thereon and means for driving said last mentioned pulley from said first mentioned pulley.

3. In a vehicle adaptedto be driven by an internal combustion motor and having a frame, a body carried thereby with a chamber therein adapted to be refrigerated, a transmission mech- 20 anism driven by said motor andia shaft extending rearwardly therefrom longitudinally of said frame, the combination of a support extending transversely of said frame, av second shaft carred by said support connected to said transmis-4 25 sion shaft to be driven thereby and extending at right angles thereto,.a constant speed 'governor having a driving means thereon, an over-running clutch'between said second shaft and governor -ladapted to drive said governor when said vehicle is in forward gear but to run idle when said vehicle is in reverse gear, a compressor forming a part of a refrigerating unit carried by said vev hicle, means for driving said compressor by power outside of said vehicle ,fand means for driving said compressor from said. governor.`

4. The structureset-forth in claim 3, said last mentioned means save one comprising an electric motor for driving said compressor, said over-running clutch running idle when said electric motor is driving said compressor so that said second shaft will not be driven.

5. In combination with an automotive vehicle having a body adapted to be refrigerated and hav-v ing an internal combustion engine anda transmission shaft, said shaft being disposed below said body, a second shaft extending parallel to said. transmission shaft,

sprockets to drive said second shaft, a compressor forming part of a refrigerating unit carried by said vehicle and means for driving said compressory from said second shaft including an overrunning clutch constructed and arranged to d rive said compressor when said vvehicle is in forward gear but to run idle when said vehicle is in reverse gear.

said shafts having sprockets thereon, a chain running over saidv 6. In combination withan automotive vehicle comprising a body adapted to be refrigerated and having an internal combustion engine and a transmission shaft, said shaft being disposed beneath said body, a second shaft extending parallel to said transmission shaft, driving' means for driving said second shaft from said transmission shaft, a compressor forming part of a re- `frigerating unit carried by said vehicle, means for driving said compressor from said second shaft including an over-running .clutch constructed and arranged to drive said compressor when said vehicle is in forward gear but to run idle when said vehicle is in reverse gear and a manually operated clutch disposed between said second shaft andv over-running clutch and means easily accessible to the operator for manually operating said last mentioned clutch to connect and disconnect said second shaft from said over-running clutch. 7. The combination with an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving the same, a frame, a body carried on said frame having a chamber therein adapted to be means and amanually controlled means for rendering operative or inoperative said second mentioned means.

8. In a vehicle adapted lto be driven by an in-v ternal combustion motor and havinga frame, a body carried thereby with a chamber therein extending the full length ofsaid body and adapted to be refrigerated, a transmission mechanism driven by said motor and a transmission shaft*- extending rearwardly therefrom longitudinally of said frame, the combination of a bracket. secured beneath said body and at one sideof said frame, a refrigerating apparatus for cooling said chamber including a compressor carried by said bracket beneath the bottom of said body, cooling coils extending from said apparatus and along the top of said chamber for cooling the same, a shaft mdriven at will from said transmission shaft, means for driving 'said compressor from said last mentioned shaft, an electric motor carried on said bracket and means for driving said compressor from said electric motor.

- CLIFFORD A. IVES. 

